Wiki Humana denying office visits when billed with 92134, 92133 and 92250

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Humana started denying Eval and management codes 92014 and 92012 when they are billed with 92133, 92134 and 92250. Reason states this procedure or procedure/modifier combo is not compatible per the NCCI edit. They advised that this is a new CMS rule, but I am not having this issue with CMS. Can someone please assist on this? has anyone else had this issue
 
Humana started denying Eval and management codes 92014 and 92012 when they are billed with 92133, 92134 and 92250. Reason states this procedure or procedure/modifier combo is not compatible per the NCCI edit. They advised that this is a new CMS rule, but I am not having this issue with CMS. Can someone please assist on this? has anyone else had this issue
Are you billing a modifier with 92014 and 92012? If so, which one? Are you billing all three codes, 92133,92134, and 92250 with the eval codes (92014 or 92012)? Look at the Humana for providers website, click on Claims processing edits, search "NCCI" . There may be more specifics in one of those documents. Seems like you need a modifier to me, but Humana can be tricky.
 
I was not billing with a modifier because these are technically not "procedures" I resubmitted the claims with modifier 25 on the office visit. When I bill CMS or any other insurance policy they are covered. This is the first time I have had this problem with Humana and I have been doing this for 6 years.
 
I can not locate any information on it but when I spoke to Humana they advised that the office visit needs a modifier. Does not make sense since CPT codes 92250, 92134 and 92133 are not procedures. They are now paying my claims when I put a modifier 25 on the office visit. I am still searching for more information and the NCCI edit they are stating but still not luck.
 
We are getting these same denials! Humana told us: According to our policy, which is based on the National Correct Coding Initiative Policy Manual, when an Evaluation and Management (E/M) service is reported on the same day as a global XXX procedure code, the E/M service is payable only if it is a significant and separately identifiable service. To be separately reportable, the physician must perform a significant and separately identifiable E/M service on the same day of service. I would say in this case the definition of “global” here just means that the service is billed for the global service, as opposed to being billed for just a component of the service (i.e technical component or professional component). I would also say that “procedure” just means any service. It does not need to be a surgery to be considered a procedure. A lab test can be considered a procedure."
I do not feel that it is correct to bill our E/M services with modifier 25 as all other payers, including Medicare, reimburse these claims. It's also hard to find exact policies to send to Humana for rebuttal. It seems Humana always has system edits that are incorrect which result in incorrect denials
 
I have sent in reconsiderations and appeals and they keep coming back with the same reason. I have sent information from Medicare but Humana just does not seem to get it. All the patients I have billed are not even in a global period for anything. I tried finding this so called NCCI edit but I can not locate anything in availity for it. I have even called Medicare and they told me that is not correct. I started billing everything with the modifier 25 (which I know is not correct) and they are paying it. I am at a loss of what to do on this.
 
If it is a Medicare plan, reach out to CMS. Many years ago I had to reach out to them regarding incorrect bundling denials for portable x-ray for a Medicare replacement plan. It took a while, but the issue was resolved.
 
Humana has an error in their edit system along with some other payers. The American Academy of Ophthalmology has gotten involved and is working to get them to correct it. Cigna has already acknowledge the error but they are not automatically reprocessing. You have to request reprocessing for each denied claim.
 
We are getting these same denials! Humana told us: According to our policy, which is based on the National Correct Coding Initiative Policy Manual, when an Evaluation and Management (E/M) service is reported on the same day as a global XXX procedure code, the E/M service is payable only if it is a significant and separately identifiable service. To be separately reportable, the physician must perform a significant and separately identifiable E/M service on the same day of service. I would say in this case the definition of “global” here just means that the service is billed for the global service, as opposed to being billed for just a component of the service (i.e technical component or professional component). I would also say that “procedure” just means any service. It does not need to be a surgery to be considered a procedure. A lab test can be considered a procedure."
I do not feel that it is correct to bill our E/M services with modifier 25 as all other payers, including Medicare, reimburse these claims. It's also hard to find exact policies to send to Humana for rebuttal. It seems Humana always has system edits that are incorrect which result in incorrect denials

I was told the same reason by a Humana rep today for a different issue I'm having with same day office visits and x-rays... same denial reason (procedure or procedure/modifier combo is not compatible). I looked again in the NCCI policy manual that was last revised 02/28/2025 and it says this now:
With most “XXX” procedures, the physician may, however, perform a significant and separately identifiable E&M service that is above and beyond usual pre- and post-operative work of the procedure on the same date of service which may be reported by appending modifier 25 to the E&M code. This E&M service may be related to the same diagnosis necessitating performance of the “XXX” procedure but cannot include any work inherent in the “XXX” procedure, supervision of others performing the “XXX” procedure, or time for interpreting the result of the“XXX” procedure. Appending modifier 25 to a significant, separately identifiable E&M service when performed on the same date of service as an “XXX” procedure may be appropriate in some instances.
It's in Chapter 1, section D, end of page I-13. It's crazy though because it's never been an issue before and Humana is the only payer we're having a problem with.
 
Humana started denying Eval and management codes 92014 and 92012 when they are billed with 92133, 92134 and 92250. Reason states this procedure or procedure/modifier combo is not compatible per the NCCI edit. They advised that this is a new CMS rule, but I am not having this issue with CMS. Can someone please assist on this? has anyone else had this issue
I currently have 22 denials, I appealed them all. 5 have been overturned and the rest are still pending or upheld. I called Humana and got nowhere with them. Have you had any luck since you posted this?
 
I currently have 22 denials, I appealed them all. 5 have been overturned and the rest are still pending or upheld. I called Humana and got nowhere with them. Have you had any luck since you posted this?
Hello with the ones being upheld are you adding the mod 25? Ours so far are the ones billed with 99213 or 99214 in addition to the above testing.
 
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